In Figure 4-6, a dynamic menu extends from the main navigation and displays options for Over Philips. The Dutch version of the Philips web site ( represents the local navigation with dynamic menus, which conserve screen real estate while providing quick access to options. It also points to content a visitor might not have known existed. For this reason, local navigation supports general exploration, as well as known-item seeking and re-finding. It also gives a sense of granularity of a topic. In this sense, local navigation plays a key role in indicating the “aboutness” of the site. Overall, local navigation provides a great deal of context, such as which topics belong together, related content, and so forth. It may be used to link to other page types, content formats.
But local navigation can be more volatile than global navigation in some instances. There’s likely no expectation that links in local navigation will cause the user to leave the site, or even the site category.
Generally transitions from page to page with a local navigation are smooth and consistent. For checkout, the main navigation tabs were removed to provide focus during the process and avoid errors.įigure 4-5. Three common arrangements of main and local navigation For instance, some task flows, such as a checkout process or online bank transfer, should restrain people from jumping out in the middle of a process.Ĭompare Figure 4-3, which shows the home page of the Opodo travel site ( to Figure 4-4, which shows first step of the site’s checkout process. There are times when global navigation shouldn’t be shown, or can vary its form. A visible, persistent global navigation may fulfill a stakeholder need. Inherently, some options will be promoted and highlighted over others. Stakeholder objectivesĬompanies have goals. You need to understand your users and their information needs, then design accordingly. User behavior and needsĭon’t create prominent and persistent main navigation just for the sake of it. Smaller sites may be navigable with only breadcrumbs or contextual navigation. Larger sites with thousands of pages may benefit from a steady main navigational mechanism across pages. It’s also typical to include a design element, such as a picture or graphic, to help create a brand image. Some utility links are included to the right, such as a site map and link to site search. The six main navigation options are on the left below the logo.
As the name “global” implies, these controls generally appear in an unchanged, consistent position on all or nearly all pages of a site.Ĭonsider the global navigation area of the University of Valencia ( Figure 4-2), for example. (See the following section for more on utility navigation). The main navigation is often presented in a global navigation area, which generally includes the site logo and utility navigation. In many ways, the main navigation defines the boundaries of the site itself. It helps when users get interrupted while navigating and reminds visitors where they are in a site. Visitors can get to other sections of a site efficiently, or they can reset their navigation path and start over using main navigation options. It is comforting to have a persistent navigation mechanism across the site, particularly for large, information-rich sites. The main navigation provides an overview and answers important questions users may have when first coming to a site, such as “does this site have what I’m looking for?” In all cases, just remember that your goal remains the same: to understand the role and purpose of navigation. Still, you may find alternative (or even contradictory) uses of terms in your organization. Whenever possible, alternative names are provided with each of the descriptions. The terminology describing navigation and navigational types can vary greatly. As you read on, however, keep in mind that there isn’t a standard language among designers. To help you ensure navigational concepts are immediately clear on your sites, this chapter surveys the various navigation types and their functions, as well as key page types. This sets the stage for interacting with the navigation and the site as a whole. The role the page plays in the overall site also gives purpose to different types of navigation.Īll of these aspects work together to allow site visitors to recognize that the main navigation is a main navigation and that local navigation is a local navigation.
The navigation on home pages is usually different from the navigation on product pages, for example, and visitors expect certain navigational elements to appear on search results pages. What’s more, the type of page on which a navigational menu appears greatly determines the navigation’s purpose. The tasks and modes of seeking the mechanism supports Behavior of the navigational links and transition to the next page